Portable referee stand

ABSTRACT

A portable platform apparatus adapted for the vertical support of a volleyball referee, the apparatus having a vertical front frame; a pair of vertical end frames, a top horizontal frame; and a ladder; the combination providing an elevated horizontal support platform which is hingedly collapsible into a compact unit that is easily carried.

United States Patent Enneking [15] 3,659,673 51 May 2, 1972 [54] PORTABLE REFEREE STAND [72] lnventor: Harold J. Enneklng, P. O. Box 789,

Hastings, Nebr. 68901 [22] Filed: Dec.31, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 103,207

[52] U.S.Cl. ..l82/ll5, l82/l52 [5 l] Int. Cl ..E04g 1/34 [58] Field ofSearch ..l82/1l5, 152, I78

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,720,430 l0/l955 Meng ..l82/l 15 2,941,616 6/1960 Grover ..l82/l52 3,250,344 5/l966' Romano.. ..l82/l52 3,504,768 4/1970 Boyd ..l82/l52 Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado Attorney-Henderson & Strom [57] ABSTRACT A portable platform apparatus adapted for the vertical support of a volleyball referee, the apparatus having a vertical front frame; a pair of vertical end frames, atop horizontal frame; and a ladder; the combination providing an elevated horizontal support platform which is hingedly collapsible into a compact unit that is easily carried.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Flgures PATENTEDm 2 m2 1 3,659,673

sum 10F 2 7 .INVENTOR.

HAROLD J. ENNEKING ATTORNEYS FIG. 2

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A number of athletic games require, for their order and fair play, a strategically placed, unbiased observer whose function is to rule on the play of the game. Volleyball is one such sport. To enable the observer, or referee as he is commonly called, to observe both teams in action, it is necessary that he be disposed somewhere on a line separating the two sides of the court, which is to say in line with the net.

Another requirement in the positioning of the referee is that of elevation. Since the top edge of the net plays an essential role in the rules of the game, it is important that the eyes of the referee are in a position superior to this edge. Furthermore, the elevated position is also necessary to enable the referee to observe the entire court and each player on the court.

A volleyball court which is used for no other purpose may be accommodated by the construction of a permanent platform installation. However, because of the multiplicity of demands on athletic fields, the court is generally made adaptable for other uses, thus necessitating the use of a portable platform for support of the referee. Various makeshift devices, such as a chair or a ladder, have been used but none has proven entirely satisfactory from the viewpoint of portability, durability, ease of ascension, comfort, safety, adaptability and storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a portable, collapsible, support stand and more particularly to a stand for the vertical support of an elevated volleyball referee.

The framework of the stand is constructed of conduit which is both light-weight and durable. The front frame has a vertical leg on either end, to which an end frame is hingedly secured. Extending between the legs and connecting the upper ends thereof is a rigid horizontal member to which an upper frame is hingedly secured. Each end frame comprises a pair of horizontal members secured at one end to a vertical leg, the lower member being hingedly secured to the front frame vertical leg and the upper member being vertically in line with the front frame horizontal member.

In its erected position, the end frames and front frame provide a rectangular structure which supports the top frame in a horizontal position. A ladder hingedly secured to the top frame on the side opposite the front frame extends downwardly to the floor providing a means for ascension and descension. In its collapsed position, the end frames are aligned adjacent the front frame on one side and the top frame is pivoted to a position adjacent the front frame on its other side.

An object of this invention is the provision for a support stand which is collapsible and portable in nature.

Another object of this invention is the provision for a support stand which is sufficiently durable and strong so as to safely support a person on its horizontal platform.

Still another object of this invention is the provision for a support stand which allows for considerable freedom of movement by a person standing on its platform.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision in a support stand for easy and safe ascension and descension.

A further object of this invention is the provision for a support stand which is light in weight, simple to collapse and erect, easy to carry and compact for storage purposes.

Still another object of this invention is the provision in a support stand for the elevating of a referee to a sufficient height for observing a volleyball game.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision for a support stand which is economical to manufacture, simple but rugged in construction, and safe and functional in use.

These objects and other features and advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent upon reference to the following description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, although various modifications and altemate' constructions can be made thereto without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, a preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the referee stand.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the top frame portion of the referee stand.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the bracket portion of the top frame as seen along the line 44 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the referee stand in a folded position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the support stand is indicated generally at 10in FIG. 1 and comprises a front frame 11, two end frames 12, atop frame 13, and a ladder 14.

The front frame 11 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is constructed of light weight tubular metal and has a pair of legs 16 and 17 which are substann'ally straight vertical members of equal length connected at their upper ends by a horizontal member 18 disposed therebetween and rigidly secured thereto. The horizontal member 18 is C-shaped, its central portion being substantially straight and curving symetrically proximate the uprights so that its ends 19 and 21 extend rearwardly beyond the uprights in a horizontal direction normal to the central portion. Near the lower ends of the front legs 16 and 17 is disposed a horizontal support 22 interconnecting the legs 16 and 17 and rigidly secured at its ends thereto.

The end frames 12 (FIG. 2) are substantially identical, vertically aligned units, each unit having a rear leg 23, a lower horizontal brace 24 and an upper horizontal arm 26. The rear leg 23 is straight and substantially vertically disposed, its length being substantially equal to the distance between the front legs 16 and 17. Rigidly secured to the rear leg 23 at a point intermediate its two ends, is the lower brace 24 extending forward to connect to the front frame leg 16 or 17 by a hinge member 27, the hinge member 27 being a cylinder pivotally disposed over the leg and prevented from vertical movement by annular rings 28 or the like secured to the leg above and below the cylinder.

Secured to the'upper end of the end frame leg 23 (FIG. 2) and projecting forwardly therefrom is the upper arm 26 parallel to said lower brace and extending to a free end 29 near the free end 19 or 21 of the horizontal member 18. Reinforcing the rigid connection of the leg 23 and the upper horizontal arm 26 is an oblique support arm 31, a straight rigid member forming an acute angle between the leg and the upper horizontal arm 26, and secured thereto between its ends by welding or the like.

The top frame 13 (FIG. 1 and 3) is horizontally disposed and comprises a platform 32, a pair of hinge units 33 and two pairs of brackets 34. vThe platform 32 is a flat member, substantially rectangular in shape, and having a front edge 36, side edges 37 and 38 and a rear edge 39, with dimensions such that it is removably insertable in the space defined by the upper horizontal arm 26 of the end frames and the horizontal member 18 of the from frame. Disposed on the bottom side of the platform 32 and secured thereto by a plurality of screws 41 are the parallel, spaced hinge units 33, each one extending laterally across the platform and projecting outwardly beyond both the front edge 36 and the rear edge 39, the portion directly under the platform 32 being a flat, straight portion and that of the projecting portions forming cylinders 42 having a longitudinal axis parallel to edges 36 and 39 respectively. The cylinders 42 adjacent the front edge 36 are pivotally disposed over, and allow the platform to pivot about the horizontal member 18. The cylinders 42 adjacent the rear edge 39 have pivotally disposed therein the upper ends of the conventional ladder 14, the lower end of which is engagable with a base surface.

Also disposed on the bottom side of the platform 32 (FIG. 3) on each of the two side edges 37 and 38 are the pairs of spaced metal brackets 34, each bracket 34 comprising a flat portion 43 (FIG. 4) secured to the bottom of the platform 32 by screws 44 and extending outwardly just beyond the side edge 37 or 38, and an arcuate-shaped portion 46 disposed adjacent to the side edge 37 or 38 and engagable with the upper side of the end frame upper horizontal arm 26. On each side of the platform, the bracket disposed nearer the front frame rests partially on the front frame horizontal 18 (FIG. 2) proximate either end 19 or 21, as well as resting on the end portion of the end frame upper horizontal arm 26. The platform 32 is thus supported by the front frame 11 and two end frames 12. The ladder 14 is employed for ascension and descension to and from the platform 32.

To collapse the stand (FIG. 2 and 5) for storage, the rear edge 39 of the platform 32 is raised, allowing the ladder to pivot about the rear edge 39 to a position adjacentthe platform lower side, as the platform 32 is pivoted about the horizontal member 18 to a position adjacent the front frame 11, as shown in FIG. 5. The end frames 12 are pivoted inwardly about uprights l6 and 17 respectively to rest one inside the other adjacent the inner side of the front frame 1 l.

I claim:

1. A portable support stand comprising:

a frontframe having a pair of substantially vertically, normally disposed, spaced apart front legs interconnected at their top ends by a normally disposed horizontal member;

a pair of spaced end frames, each end frame having a rear leg, a lower horizontal brace secured on one end to said rear leg intermediate its ends and pivotally secured on its other end to one of said front legs intermediate its ends, and an upper horizontal arm secured on one end to said rear leg upper end with the free end thereof disposed proximate said horizontal member;

each said end frame pivotal from a first position disposed normal to said front frame to a collapsed position disposed substantially parallel to said front frame;

a rigid platform pivotally secured to said horizontal member; and

a plurality of brackets secured to said platform and engagable with said upper braces when said end frames are disposed in said first position to support said platform in a horizontal position;

said platform pivotal from said horizontal position to a collapsed position adjacent said front frame.

2. A portable support stand as disclosed in claim 1 wherein said horizontal member is C-shaped, with said front legs in terconnected thereto intermediate the ends thereof and the ends of said horizontal member extend rearwardly toward said upper horizontal arms free ends.

3. A portable support stand as disclosed in claim 2 and including ladder means secured at one end to said platform rear edge and having its free other end adaptable to engage a support base.

4. A portable support stand as disclosed in claim 3 wherein said ladder means is secured to said platfonn rear edge by hinge means, thus allowing the free end of said ladder to pivot toward said platform bottom surface when the stand is collapsed.

5. A portable support stand as disclosed in claim 4 and including at least one horizontal support disposed between and interconnecting said front frame legs.

6. A portable support stand as disclosed in claim 5 and including at least one end frame support extending obliquely from a point intermediate the ends of said upper horizontal arm to a point intermediate the ends of said end frame upstanding member. 

1. A portable support stand comprising: a front frame having a pair of substantially vertically, normally disposed, spaced apart front legs interconnected at their top ends by a normally disposed horizontal member; a pair of spaced end frames, each end frame having a rear leg, a lower horizontal brace secured on one end to said rear leg intermediate its ends and pivotally secured on its other end to one of said front legs intermediate its ends, and an upper horizontal arm secured on one end to said rear leg upper end with the free end thereof disposed proximate said horizontal member; each said end frame pivotal from a first position disposed normal to said front frame to a collapsed position disposed substantially parallel to said front frame; a rigid platform pivotally secured to said horizontal member; and a plurality of brackets secured to said platform and engagable with said upper braces when said end frames are disposed in said first position to support said platform in a horizontal position; said platform pivotal from said horizontal position to a collapsed position adjacent said front frame.
 2. A portable support stand as disclosed in claim 1 wherein said horizontal member is C-shaped, with said front legs interconnected thereto intermediate the ends thereof and the ends of said horizontal member extend rearwardly toward said upper horizontal arms free ends.
 3. A portable support stand as disclosed in claim 2 and including ladder means secured at one end to said platform rear edge and having its free other end adaptable to engage a support base.
 4. A portable support stand as disclosed in claim 3 wherein said ladder means is secured to said platform rear edge by hinge means, thus allowing the free end of said ladder to pivot toward said platform bottom surface when the stand is collapsed.
 5. A portable support stand as disclosed in claim 4 and including at least one horizontal support disposed between and interconnecting said front frame legs.
 6. A portable support stand as disclosed in claim 5 and including at least one end frame support extending obliquely from a point intermediate the ends of said upper horizontal arm to a point intermediate the ends of said end frame upstanding member. 